Irving "Sonny" Hacker

Irving “Sonny” Hacker, died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on August 21st, at age 83. Sonny was born on November 3, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York to Clara and Adolph Hacker. Sonny served in the United States Navy from 1950-1954 and was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida where he flew in the original squadron of Hurricane Hunters. He married Merle Setzer of Jacksonville on September 12, 1954 and he and Merle raised their family in Jacksonville and after they moved in 1968, in Dallas. His warm personality served him well professionally as a salesman driving all around the cities and small towns of Texas and the region. Over the years, Sonny was active in Congregation Shearith Israel and the Jewish Community Center athletics program, where so many of his kids’ friends knew him as “Uncle Sonny.” Later in life he was active with the Shalom Club in the Frisco Lakes retirement community, and a highlight in his retirement were his appearances on the Old Timers Round Table on local sports radio.

Sonny loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, who loved him so very much. He loved playing and watching sports, especially the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cowboys, Rangers and Mavericks. Sonny had a warm and loving personality, was loved by so many people, and had as big of a heart as there was. Sonny was preceded in death by his beloved son, Larry Hacker (1956-1966); his parents; and his sister, Bertha Cooper. He is survived by his wife; his son, and daughter-in-law, Brad and Karen Hacker of Cooper City, Florida; his daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Jay Leshefsky of Dallas; and his son and daughter-in-law, Howard and Suzie Hacker of Dallas; his grandchildren, Lane and Drew Hacker of Cooper City, Lauren Leshefsky of Dallas, and Carly, Evan and Morgan Hacker of Dallas.

The funeral will be held in Jacksonville, and the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and The Jacksonville Jewish Center in Sonny’s memory.

A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26st in New Center Cemetery, located at 43rd and Liberty Streets, Jacksonville with Rabbi Howard Tilman of The Jacksonville Jewish Center, as officiant. Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family